Year of impact celebrated at Foundation of Light

The Foundation of Light has recognised outstanding students and adult learners at an awards evening.

The ‘Skills Awards’ night, which marks the end of the academic year, celebrated the achievements of those working with Sunderland AFC’s official charity’s Skills department.

Skills oversees the organisation’s alternative education provision – Study Programme – and the Adult and Family learning programmes which support those aged over 19 to enhance their employability and home skills.

Awards were given out to learners who demonstrated each of the Foundation of Light’s organisational values alongside prizes for Young Learner of the Year, Adult Learner of the Year, and Employability Participant of the Year.

Foundation of Light managing director, Jamie Wright, who helped present awards on the night, was pleased to see the organisation’s impact on those in the room.

He said: “It was lovely hearing about the impact our programmes have had on a really wide range of young people and adults.

“It’s even more heartwarming when you see in the faces of the participants how much their time with us means.

“As we find across areas of the Foundation, the Skills team are engaging with participants with a whole host of life, educational, and personal challenges, but the staff create a safe space for people to come, learn and enjoy their experience with us.”

Event organiser Sarah Coyne, the Foundation's adult skills coordinator Sarah Coyne, added: “We are very proud of all our community, adult, and youth learners.

“It was great to celebrate their amazing achievements and to see so much pride and positivity in the room.

“The Skills department have worked year-round to break down barriers to education and give people a hand up towards employment, further education, and personal growth.

“This event was the culmination of the hard work of both our learners and staff to achieve that.”

The full list of award winners were as follows:

Integrity Award
Winner: Leo Simpson
Runners Up: Millie Hunter and Jessica MacDonald

Collaboration Award
Winners: Alvin Allan
Runners Up: Kayleigh Ward and Matthew Somers/Jessica MacDonald

Passion Award
Winner: Lucy Twisse
Runners Up: Georgina Rutley and Skye Jenkins

Innovation Award
Winner: Rio Fox
Runners Up: Carol Rogers and Nathan Henderson

Excellence Award
Winner: Abel Clementson
Runners Up: Parth Patwardhan and Thomas Smith

Adult Learner of the Year Award
Winner: Sharon Houghton
Runners Up: Lauren McNeill and David Dummer

Employability Participant of the Year Award
Winner: Patrick Wilson
Runners Up: Parth Patwardhan and Kailum McDermott

Youth Learner of the Year Award
Winner: Harvey Wilde
Runners Up: Rio Fox and Aaron Anderson

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